Latest news with #O'Dea
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Man told he would never cycle again to take on Tour de Munster bike challenge
A Limerick man who was told he would never be able to cycle again is taking on the Tour de Munster bike challenge to raise funds for charity. Conor O'Dea went from cycling competitively to being paralysed from the neck down after an accident seven years ago. But tomorrow, he will begin the 640km bike tour around the counties of Munster. Sport has always been an important part of Mr O'Dea's life. He had been a Gaelic footballer in his youth and took up triathlons in later life. In August 2018, while training for a triathlon event, he was involved in an accident. "I ended up having an impact off the back of a van headfirst, and I was thrown out onto the side of the road. I was whisked away to the local hospital, and I was unconscious for three days," he said. Mr O'Dea had a spinal cord injury and at first had no movement in his body below his neck. While in University Hospital Limerick, some tiny movements returned, and he was transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin. Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, he said he was determined to focus on gradual improvement. "I made a conscious decision that I just was going to think positive and not dwell in any negativity. There's no point in looking backwards, there's nothing to be gained from it, and there's no point in looking too far forward either, because the further you look into the future, the more negativity." Over time, more movement returned to both his upper and lower body. "It's all about little incrementals, and I'm happy with the incrementals. That's all that matters. That's how I survive." A triathlon friend contacted him to suggest he could get a custom-built trike adapted to his needs. With the help of a local bike shop and charities, the idea became reality. "The first time I got the trike, and I went out my front gate there and turned down, I could feel the wind in my face. And that was a real sign of wow, ok, you're back on the bike." "I never thought I'd get this feeling again. I'm not an emotional fish, but that was close to it. It was incredible." Mr O'Dea said it has been easy to stay positive with the "amazing" support of his family, friends and carers. Tomorrow, he will begin the 640km Tour de Munster bike challenge. The four-day event raises funds for Down Syndrome Ireland. Joining him on the tour this year will be his care team, headed by Paula O'Keeffe, Bluebird Care Limerick, who first met Mr O'Dea at the National Rehabilitation Hospital. "Conor is definitely unique. Conor was very positive, which I suppose is the most prominent thing," she said. "When I did meet him first, he did say I am going to walk again. So I said ok, let's try that. And it's just been loads of different milestones Conor has met and surpassed. So it's great to be part of that." Ms O'Keeffe had not cycled a bike in 15 years, but after meeting Mr O'Dea, she signed up for her first triathlon. "He said if you do the triathlon, I'll go and see you coming in on the finish line. Now I had to learn to swim before we did it, so that was a bit of a challenge. But I said, look, if Conor can do what he can do, I can definitely manage to learn." While dealing with his spinal injury, Mr O'Dea has inspired people to take up challenges and has raised significant funds for charities. But he wears those achievements lightly. "I do get told that by people that I am inspirational, but I don't see it as inspirational," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, I haven't changed. I'm the same Conor before the accident as after the accident. I'm still training, I'm just doing different training." "I won't say it's no big deal, but that's the way I look at it. Now, if people want to take inspiration from that, perfect. But I don't look at myself in that light at all."
Irish Independent
19-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Businessman Paul Wright ‘not being truthful' in US case, says judge
A magistrate judge assisting the judge hearing the case has determined that fraud – alleged by a law firm suing Mr Wright and his Irish firms in Florida – did occur, at least in part. Mr Wright has been accused of using client money to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, including the rental of private jets and buying a house for his son. Florida law firm TMCT, which is owned by Ms Cherish Thompson, last year sued Mr Wright and two of his companies, Eterna Private Clients Europe and Wright Private Office. Ms Thompson has claimed that she was introduced to Mr Wright in London in 2020 and that her business is owed at least $221,000 (€204,000) by the defendants. However, she has sought a total of $730,000 in a recent motion for a default judgment that was deemed by the court to have been filed prematurely. Mr Wright's firms are in danger of having a judgment in default registered against them Mr Wright and his firms have vigorously denied the claims, describing Ms Thompson as 'an aggrieved former independent contractor'. Mr Wright and his firms have seen two law firms that had been representing them at different times both come off record in recent months. Mr Wright and his companies were given until May 30 to find new legal representation, but failed to do so. They are now in danger of having a judgment in default registered against them by the Florida court hearing the case. The defendants had tried to dismiss the case on a number of grounds, including that Florida was the wrong jurisdiction to hear it, but most of those have now been rejected by the court. In the issues where motions to dismiss have been granted by the court, TMCT has been told it can amend its complaint or re-plead. As part of the discovery process, TMCT previously requested that Mr Wright make 147 admissions, including that he told office staff in 2022 that his business colleague, John O'Dea, was having an affair with his wife. Mr O'Dea has also provided an affidavit to the court in the current case. 'Having carefully reviewed the briefing on the general jurisdiction issue, the court first notes that Mr Wright's and Mr O'Dea's declarations are inconsistent with those submitted by plaintiff,' noted the magistrate judge in a report just published. The judge said that is why a hearing had been scheduled, but it could not go ahead as scheduled because Mr Wright and his firms had not retained new legal counsel, 'in direct violation of court orders'. 'It seems that Mr Wright and Mr O'Dea are not being truthful in denying having electronically signed agreements retaining plaintiff, a law firm based in Florida, in light of the competing declarations submitted by plaintiff,' the judge noted in his report. He added: 'There is an abundance of evidence that defendants did, in fact, retain plaintiff to pursue their interests in Florida, and defendants have not provided any evidence other than the self-serving representations of defendant Mr Wright and Mr O'Dea.'
The National
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
Celtic man's classy farewell involving Lawwell and Michael Nicholson
The Irishman recently departed his role as Professional Player Pathway Manager at the Parkhead club to join Swansea City as assistant to Alan Sheehan. O'Dea took to social media platform X after his Celtic exit was confirmed, outlining the roles of Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson, Ange Postecoglou, Brendan Rodgers, Paul Tisdale and Chris McCart played in his time as a coach and then pathway manager. Read more: He said: "It's time to take another step in my career, which means leaving the club I love. "I've had an incredible time and been given the best education, and there are so many people I'm grateful to. "Peter, Michael, Ange, Brendan, Paul are just a few and a special mention for Chris McCart, who's always supported me so much. I'll just be a fan again, and I can honestly say the club is in a great place and the people there make it what it is - family. "Not a 'goodbye' but a 'see you again'." O'Dea spent six years as a player at Celtic before rejoining the club in 2019, initially as under-19s manager. "I am delighted," he told after taking up his new role in Wales. "I knew of the interest and I spoke with Alan [Sheehan] a number of weeks ago. "Obviously, I have been with a club I have grown up in, so it was difficult to come to terms with the decision in terms of leaving, but once I spoke to him and had an insight into what the club is wanting to do, I wanted to join. "I had a good understanding of the club anyway, but it's a really exciting project, one I wanted to be a part of, and I am delighted it is done now. "I would not have left Celtic unless it was for something I felt very strongly about. Of course, the club and its prestige and the intensity of it is something I am used to, and I wanted to work with and for Alan. "You combine those two things, and the conversations I have had with other people at the club who will be working with us, and it just fits. It's something I am really happy to be part of."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Swansea to appoint Celtic's O'Dea as assistant boss
Swansea City are close to finalising a deal to make Celtic's Darren O'Dea their new assistant boss to head coach Alan Sheehan. In March, Sheehan added former team-mates Richard Stearman and Mark Fotheringham to his backroom team on short-term deals. But after being appointed Swansea's head coach on a permanent basis, Sheehan said further changes to his staff were likely during the close season. He has been targeting his fellow Irishman O'Dea since taking over as Swansea's interim head coach in February. The 38-year-old is currently on Celtic's staff under former Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers. As a player, O'Dea represented the likes of Celtic, Reading, Leeds United, Blackpool and Dundee as well as having spells in Canada, Ukraine and India. Dublin-born O'Dea won 20 caps for the Republic of Ireland having played international youth football in the same sides as Sheehan, who is also 38. O'Dea began his coaching career at Motherwell before returning to Celtic in 2019. He was initially under-18s boss before stepping up to take charge of Celtic B in 2021, and became player pathway manager in 2024.
The National
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Talks 'advanced' for key Celtic figure to join Championship side
O'Dea, who made 62 appearances for the Parkhead outfit as a player, is currently the club's Professional Player Pathway Manager. Read more: He has been headhunted down south, though, and Swansea are said to be close to reaching an agreement with Celtic for the Irishman to become assistant manager to new boss Alan Sheehan. Talks are at an advanced stage, claims Sky Sports' Anthony Joseph. UPDATE: Swansea City are close to an agreement to appoint Celtic pathways manager Darren O'Dea as their new assistant boss at the end of the season. The 38yo is wanted by Swansea to be new boss Alan Sheehan's No2. Talks have reached an advanced stage and an agreement is close. — Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) May 13, 2025 O'Dea was previously in charge of Celtic's B team. He took up the Player Pathway role in April of last year. Addressing his potential exit last week, first team boss Brendan Rodgers said: "I spoke to Darren yesterday on that. "He came to see me and get my thoughts on what that would be, what it would look like. "Obviously, I know Swansea as a club and a city better than most. "So, yes, I think that there may well be a possibility of him to go as a coach. I think in his heart, he still sees himself as that. "Probably the role he's in now is probably only do-able at a club like Celtic. But I think his heart is in coaching and maybe the possibility to manage later on." "So, yes, he just asked my opinion on it. And, yes, so we'll see what happens on that."
